Method and apparatus for making a brush for cleaning boiler and condenser tubes and the like



Dec, 31, .1935. G. B. vRooM 2,025,795

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A BRUSH FOR CLEANING BOILER AND CONDENSER TUBES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Nov. 30, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l 20 7 10:11:16.9 m 15 22 we 6: c6:;o 0:15.: Into-17 ATTORNEY G. B. VROOM Dec. 31, 1935.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A BRUSH FOR CLEANING BOILER AND CONDENSER TUBES AND THE LIKEv 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 30, 1929 INQVENTOR #5. Vlovm. BY )9 ATTORNEY Dec. 31, 1935. B VROOM 2,025,795

METHOD AND AP us FOR MAK N A'BRUSH FOR CLEANING BOILER ONDENSER- T 5 AND THE LIKE 8.1 Filed NOV. 30, 1929 Sheets-Sheet 3 PARAT AND C Origin V va-m.

Y mm v A. K: EN3 0 Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNIED STTE Guysbert B. Vroom, New York, N. Y.

Application November 30, 1929, Serial No. 410,839 Renewed May 12, 1934 28 Claims.

.(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) Heretofore the bristles of brushes for cleaning the Water or other deposit or scale from condenser, boiler and like tubes have been formed of individual wires cut to length and assembled 5 into groups each of a number of wires corresponding to the desired thickness of each group. Each such group is then bent double, or otherwise arranged, and secured to the body of the brush. The cutting to length, assembling into groups and the handling of each group of loose wires are tedious operations requiring time and much hard labor which increases their production cost.

In my application Serial No. 410,840 filed herei; with I have secured the strands of a rope or cable at a. plurality of points to keep the strands thereof from unlaying and enable the handling of the severed portions of such rope or cable as one piece instead of as many pieces as there are strands therein. Each such portion forms a bristle unit and is then forced longitudinally into holes in the brush body until they project from one or both sides thereof. In the specific structure of such companion disclosure the brush body is round and said holes extend radially therethrough.

In the present disclosure I have multiplied the bristle area possible in said companion disclosure without weakening the brush body appreciably and which correspondingly increases the efficiency of the brush. I have also substantially reduced the construction cost of said companion disclosure by securing the strands of a rope or cable only at points in the length thereof which will form all, or any desirable number of the bristles of one brush body severing such rope or cable at such points, pointing an end of each of said severed portions, lacing such length into all, or any desired number of, the bristle-unit holes in such body, securing such rope or cable in each of said holes, and severing such rope or cable into the respective bristle-units substantially while sizing such units into a common brushing surface.

In the specific structure of the preferred form of my present invention the brush body is round, the bristles have a round cleaning exterior surface, the holes supporting the bristle units or colonies are arranged in a series, each series beng substantially parallel to the radius and off the center of the substantially circular brush body, and each such series being at an angle to, and in a difierent longitudinal plane from, each other or its preceding series.

An object of my pres nt in ention. i t provide a method of and apparatus for producing a multiple sided or round brush having many-fold bristle units or colonies that have been possible to provide by prior practices, without limiting the length of the brush body substantially to the sum of the diameters of the bristle units as in the prior art, andalso in which the brushing surface or'surfaces is or are formed of a rope or cable whose strands are preferably secured together to prevent their unlaying, severing such rope or cable substantially within the area of each such securement and in lengths suitable for forming the whole, orany desired portion, of the brushing surface or surfaces, folding or lacing one or more of such lengths preferably in looped pairs each pair at an angle to and in a different plane from the other adjacent pairs, securing such folded or laced pairs together, severing the looped ends of each such pair and trimming such ends into an uniform cleaning surface or surfaces.

A further object of my invention is to provide an assembly fixture by which my method of brush making may be most expeditiously, uniformly and cheaply assembled and trimmed or sized into a uniform cleaning surface or surfaces.

To attain these and other objects, and in accordance with the general features of this unitary invention of related and interdependent components, my improved method contemplates the various steps hereinafter stated.

To demonstrate the practical utility of my said method, a related, improved and novel apparatus is provided embodying my invention, and which may be used advantageously and economically in practicing said improved method as a unitary The foregoing and other objects of my invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of my invention in an improved apparatus, of the many different forms and characters of apparatus,

each of which may be employed with or without substantial modification, in the practice of my improved method.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a circular brush body constructed according to my method and mounted in the assembly fixture shown in Figure 3 but which fixture top is removed for clearness of illustration Figure 2 is a reduced diagrammatic view of the surface of the round brush body flattened to show all the holes therein;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional elevation view on line 3-3 of Figure 1 but with the top thereon which is absent from Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but embodying a differently constructed combined assembly and trimming fixture whose top-is removed for clearness of illustration;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation view on line 55 of Figure 4, with the top thereon which is absent from Figure 4 and with the brush body not being in section except a portion of each of its opposite ends, and with the central por tion removed for space conservation;

Figure 6 is a central vertical sectional view of a brush constructed for the practice of my method for cleaning bent boiler or condenser tubes, the central portion of each of the two brush bodies being broken away;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional View on line 1-1 of Figure 6 of the whole brush with the bristle units or rope sections not being shown in section;

Figure 8 is a plan view on line 8-8 of Figure 6 of the flexible connection removed from between i the two brush body portions; and

Figure 9 is a view of the roll of rope with a portion unrolled and its strands secured from unlaying preparatory to being severed into a single length or piece capable of making the several bristle units or colonies for a brush body or a portion thereof.

To attain the foregoing and other objects, one step of my method contemplates and includes the association with such cleaner of a rope or cable 10 or wire or other suitable material of a size desired to substantially conform to the diameter of each group of bristles. The strands of such rope or cable are then preferably secured together at points in the length thereof desired to be employed to keep the strands from unlaying and becoming diflicult to handle as a unit while being assembled into the cleaner. Such rope or cable is then severed into such lengths, preferably within the area of said securements. A plurality of such severed portions of rope or cable are then associated in substantially parallel relationship in substantially the same plane in the formation of a multiple sided or round cleaning brush. A further plurality of said portions are substantially likewise associated in a different plane preferably at an angle to said first stated or preceding plurality. The cleaning brush is built up of such pluralities to the length and size desired. Said portions are then secured together. The secured and other ends of said portions are then trimmed to release the strands and preferably also to conform the ends of such strands into a. uniform cleaning surface or surfaces.

I prefer to have each of such severed cable portions longer than will make a single bristle unit, and of a length that will make two or more of such units. I prefer to exercise such preference by bending such portionsat or beyond the ulitimate ends of its useful bristle units, so that each such portion makes two or more complete bristle units, and to sever such bent portion or portions therefrom in the said trimming operation or step. In the practice of this step of my method, I have found it most economical and expeditious to form the whole cleaning brush bristle surface or surfaces of a single severed portion of rope or cable, whose strands are secured against unlaying as aforesaid, preferably by folding or lacing such portion into the desired bristle length and form, securing the result together. and trimming as aforesaid.

In the most economical and expeditious practice of the bending or lacing step of my method I have obtained the best results by devising a bending or lacing assembly fixture which definitely locates the bends or lacing folds and reduces to a minimum the production time and cost as well as the amount to be trimmed at each bend, fold or end in the trimming step.

With the foregoing preliminary or broader View of my invention, I will proceed to describe it as specifically applied to a round brush of the type I have designed and used under most exacting conditions in cleaning the water and other tubes of boilers, condenser tubes and the like. Such application will also serve as an example to those skilled in the art of the facility and advantage with which my invention may be applied in other shapes of such brushes and other like exacting uses. The same will likewise exemplify the otherwise unexpected benefits and advantages enjoyable by my invention from the practice of my 1 method by other apparatus with or without substantial modification.

The rope or cable l0 may be unrolled from a coil ll, Figure 9, to any convenient length and soldered, spot-welded or otherwise secured at points [2 in such length. Such securement points are preferably so located that when rope I0 is severed into the desired lengths, such as at point [3, part of said securement will be on each of the severed ends and will prevent the strands of the a severed portions of rope Ill from unlaying or raveling.

One end of the severed rope portion Ill is preferably provided with a point l4, Figure 1.

The round brush body l5, Figures 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 I

and 7, is provided preferably at opposite ends with a central projection l6 each provided with screw threads.

Said body I 5 may be provided with radial holes therethrough, as shown in my said co-pending application, and which gives but a fraction of the greater number of holes in a given length of brush body that my present invention provides available for bristle units or groups and more efficient cleaning relative to the length of the brush body.

I prefer to associate with the brush body I5 for the accommodation of their respective bristle units, a plurality of series of holes l'l, Figure 5, the holes ll of each series being substantially parallel and in a plane extending through the longitudinal axis of said body I5 preferably at right angles thereto for a round brush body, the adjacent series of holes I! being in a different plane and preferably at an angle to the preceding series for a round brush body. Such succeeding series of holes I! continue preferably throughbetween the mouths of the holes H indicate the relation of the holes ii on opposite sides of the hole l8 extending longitudinally through the brush body.

Holes I! of each series are in different planes, as appears from Figure 2, those in each series being parallel to each other as shown in Figure 7. While but two holes ll are shown in each series, yet any number of such holes may be provided in each series consistent with the diameter of body l5 and of holes I1.

In the cleaning of the water tubes of boilers, condensers and the like, the small bores of such tubes require that the diameters of bodies I5 must usually be of very small diameter such that the drawings are at a scale in excess of the size ordinarily employed, and which accounts for the presence of but two holes I? in each series.

When but two holes I! are provided in each series they are disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of each body through which axis extends a hole i8, Figures 1, 3 and 6. Hole I8 extends an appreciable extent into and through a portion of the area of each hole l'i, Figures 1 and 3.

After the severed rope portion 10 is laced through holes ii leaving usually looped parts thereof projecting from the mouths of the holes I! sufiiciently to form the bristle units, pins l9, Figures 6 and 7 are driven into holes [8 and force therefrom the portions of rope ill extending therein and causes the pins it to become embedded into such forced portions of rope I!) and thus lock the rope Iii portions into their holes I'i, after which the parts of rope portion it projecting from holes ii are trimmed at their ends to sever the loops, Figures 1 and 4, and to form such ends into a uniform cleaning surface as hereafter explained.

Such placing or lacing of the rope portion I!) into the holes ll may be done by hand or otherwise, but I have practiced my method most unlfo-rmly, expeditiously and economically by a placing or lacing fixture which I have devised in two forms shown respectively in Figures 1, 3 and 4, 5. From said illustrations and the following description thereof those skilled in the art may readily adapt other apparatus therefor in the light of my method herein afforded.

In the fixture of Figures 1 and 3, the baseplate 29 has revolubly mounted preferably at its center a bushing having a bearing portion 22 extending through a hole in base 28. On the end of portion 22 is a collar 23 secured to portion 22 by screw 24 or by other suitable or convenient means. Through the center of bushing 25 and its portion 22 is a screw threaded hole 25 adapted to receive the threads of one projection E6 of brush body [5.

Rising vertically from spaced points about the outer edge of preferably circular horizontal base plate 2!! are a plurality of rods or pins 2'! preferably secured to plate 2i; in any convenient manner. The body i5 having projections i6 and holes ll, 58 is threaded into bushing 2i, and stands vertical in the center of rods or pins 21.

Adapted to be removably mounted preferably with a bearing fit on the top end portions of pins 2'! is a top-plate 28 having a central bearing openings 28a therethrough adapted to receive tral screw-threaded opening 3! therethrough adapted to be screwed upon the top projection I 6 of brush body l5.

Surrounding the lower edge of opening 29% in top-plate 25 is a recess 32 for receiving a collar 33 secured to portion 29 of top bushing 35 in any convenient manner, the thickness of collar 33 being preferably less than the depth of recess 32 in order to insure a binding contact between the lower surface of plate 28 and the top end of brush body l5 when bushing 32 is screwed upon the top projection iii of body l5.

A brush-body i5 being mounted, as aforesaid, in the rope placing or lacing assembly fixture shown in Figures 1 and 3, the rope portions i0 is placed or laced therein as follows:

The pointed end id is inserted, for instance, into hole ii, Figure 2, and rope portion H] is then drawn therethrough until its remaining end comes about even with the outer edge of plates 25, 28; end 2 3 is then passed around the outer side of adjacent pin 21, as shown in Figure 1, and then inserted into and drawn through hole Ha until tight against said pin 2?; thence end M is passed downwardly around the outer side of adjacent pin 2! and inserted into and drawn through hole i'ib' until tight around said pin 21; thence end id is passed around the outer side of adjacent pin 21 and inserted into and drawn through hole i'lc until tight against said pin 2?; thence end it is passeddcwnwardly around adjacent pins ii and into and drawn through hole lid until tight against said pins 2']; thence end M is passed downwardly around the outer side of adjacent pin 2'! and inserted into and drawn through hole llc until tight against said pin 27; thence end it is passed downwardly around the outer side of adjacent pin 21' and inserted into and drawn through hole ii until tight against said pin 21; thence end M is passed around the outer side of adjacent pin 21' and inserted into and drawn through hole i'lg until tight against said pin 27; thence end I4 is passed downwardly around the outer side of adjacent pin 2? and inserted into and drawn through hole ilh until tight against said pin 2?; thence end it is passed around the outer side of adjacent pin 2? and inserted into and drawn through hole iii until tight against said pin 2?; thence end it is passed downwardly around the outer side of adjacent pin 2? and inserted into and drawn through hole i'iy' until tight against said pin 27; thence end i is passed around the outer side of adjacent pin 2? and inserted into and drawn through hole ilk until tight against said pin '21; thence end M- is passed downwardly around the outer side of adjacent pin 2? and inserted into and drawn through hole I'lm until tight against said pin 27; thence end i is passed around the outer side of adjacent pin 21 and inserted into and drawn through hole iin until tight against said pin 27; thence end I i is passed downwardly around the outer side of adjacent pin 21 and inserted into and drawn through hole lip until tight against said pin 2?; thence end it passed around the outer side of adjacent pin and inserted into and drawn through hole i'lr until tight against said pin 2?; thence end i i is passed downwardly around the outer side of adjacent pin 21 and inserted into and drawn through hole Il s until tight against said pin 21; thence end is is passed around the outer side of adjacent pin 2'5 and inserted into drawn through hole l'lt until tight against said pin 2'? and end it Will be of a length to be substantially flush with the outer edges of plates 20 and 28.

Pin l9, Figures 6 and '7, isthen driven into hole I 8 until its ends are a distance from the ends of hole I8 so that when the thus assembled and laced brush-body I5 is removed from its said lacing assembly fixture it may be mounted between the centers (engaging in conical extensions 3a of holes I 3) of a grinding machine which will sever the looped portions of rope In (which had been about several pins 21) in the operation of trimming the projecting portions of rope IE to a substantially common uniform cleaning surface. In said or any other convenient operation the soldered, spot-welded or other securements l2 of rope portion H! are also removed, which with the severing of saidrloops of portions Ill, permits the unlaying or unraveling of the outer or bristle ends of each of the rope portions in holes H, the securement thereof by pin is in hole l8 preventing such unlaying of the strands of the rope portions adjacent the point of said securement as illustrated in diagonal shadelines in Figure 7 which indicate the natural twist of such rope strands at said point.

In the rope placing or lacing assembly fixture illustrated in Figures 1, 3, the brush-body l5 laced therein is required to be removed from such fixture before undergoing the trimming operation or step, in which case the rope ends being trimmed are unsupported and yielding and hence receive a rounding trim at each such ends.

Where each such ends require a square trim such fixture illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 is employed. It is constructed of a preferably round base-plate 40, having legs 4| about its edges and a bushing 2 la with collar 23a (the same as 2| and 23 of Figures 1 and 3) revolubly mounted at its center.

Projecting from the top surface of plate 40 are preferably four pairs of hinge lugs 42. Instead of the pins 21 of Figures 1 and 3, a cylindrical shell 43 is adapted to surround the brush-body l5 when mounted in bushing 21a. Said shell 43 is divided vertically into a plurality of substantially equal, preferably four, pieces each provided with hinge lugs 44 cooperating with lugs 42 with a hinge pin 45 extending through each set of cooperating lugs 42 and 44, about which pins 45 said portions of shell 43 may turn when withdrawing shell 43 from the trimmed ends of rope portions I extending through their respective holes in said shell 43.

A top plate substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 3 is provided and whose parts are designated by the same reference characters with the addition of a, except that instead of holes for pins 2'! plate 28a is provided with a tapering cam groove 46 in its lower surface cooperating with the top edge of shell 43 for holding shell 43 closed when plate 28a is in position.

When brush-body I is mounted in the fixture as heretofore described in connection with Figures 1 and 3, the rope portion I0 is placed or laced preferably substantially as heretofore described in connection with Figures 1, 2 and 3, except that instead of looping the rope about pins 21 it is looped between holes in shell 43 corresponding to the holes I! in body IS.

The bushings 2 l, 2 la are revolubly mounted to facilitate the securement thereby of brush-body in the fixtures in definite relation to pins 21 or the holes in shell 43 respectively; while bushings 30, 33a are revolubly mounted in their respective plates 23 and 23a because said plates are prevented from rotation by their respective engaging pins 2? and shell 43.

When the rope portion I0 is laced into body l5 in the fixture of Figures 4 and 5, the pin I9 is driven into hole l8 to secure the rope portion ID to body l5 at each point such rope comes in contact with pin l9, which is each time it passes through brush body I5. Then such fixture is mounted between the centers (engaging in conical extensions |8a of holes [8) of preferably any grinding machine whose grinding Wheel 50, Figure 4, removes the projecting and looped portions of rope portion l0 projecting from the periphery of shell 43, whose holes hold the ends of rope portion [0 in place during such trimming operation and insure a square grinding edge trimming of each of said ends.

Said trimming operation being completed plate 28a is removed, shell 43 parts turned outward on their pivot pins 45 and brush-body I5 removed preferably by turning the knurled collar 23a.

At the completion of either of said trimming operations or steps the brush [5 may then be used, and its preferred assembly for use is by screwing a hollow head cap 60 over one projection I6, screwing a flexible coupling 10 to the adjacent ends of each pair of brush-bodies I5, to be employed as a cleaning battery, and attaching a preferably threaded union 80 attached to a preferably flexible shaft 8| to the last projection I8 and operating said flexible shaft by a motor or otherwise.

Obviously flexible shaft 8| may be or have attached thereto any flexible or rigid handle which may be revolved and/or reciprocated by hand.

Flexible coupling 10 is preferably formed of conical collars H at opposite ends each having central threaded openings adapted to be screwed onto brush-body projections 16, and a base shoulder 12 secured at their peripheries to the opposite ends of the spirally coiled flexible connecting elements 13 and 14, in this instance shown in Figures 6 and 8. The cones of collars II project toward each other and within the ends of their connecting elements 13 and 14, which, with the separation of said collars H, facilitates the flexible connection of the brush bodies l5 together with an extremely short space between brushes l5 and which connection 10 enables brushes IE to be employed without distortion or undue wear in cleaning very short and sharp curved boiler, condenser and like tubes, and in the shortest and sharpest of such curves short length brushes l5 are employed most advantageously.

The invention herein described may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon or therefor.

Having now so fully described my invention that others skilled in the art may therefrom make and use the same, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of making brushes including the steps of associating together a plurality of strands of a length and material adapted to form a plurality of bristle units, folding said strands into a plurality of lengths, securing said folded bristle units together throughout an area extending between points adjacent each of the opposite folded ends and which area is adapted to form the brush ,head, and severing the exposed folds of said strands.

2. The method of making brushes including the steps of associating together a plurality of strands of a length and material adapted to form a plurality of bristle units, securing said strands together, folding said strands into a plurality of lengths in different angular planes, securing said folded bristle units together throughout an area extending between points adjacent each of the.

opposite folded ends and which area is adapted to form the brush head, and severing the exposed folds of said strands.

3. The method of making a brush with a rope and a perforated brush body including the steps of securing the rope strands from unlaying, lacing the rope through the perforations in the brush body, folding the end of the rope projecting from and between each of the perforations, and severing the folds of said rope to form the brushing surface.

4. The method of making a brush with a rope and a perforated brush body including the steps ofsecuring the rope strands from unlaying, tapering an end of the rope, lacing the tapered end of the rope through the perforations in the brush body, folding the rope at a distance from the brush body and between each of said openings to form the required length of the bristle units, and severing the rope at each of said folds.

5. The method of making round brushes including the steps of associating together a plurality of strands of a length and material adapted to form a plurality of bristle units, folding said strands into a plurality of substantially parallel lengths in each of a plurality of adjacent planes extending at an angle to the length of the brush, securing said lengths together throughout an area extending between points adjacent each of the opposite folded ends and which area is adapted to form the brush head, and trimming the opposite ends of said lengths into a round brushing surface.

6. The method of making round brushes including the steps of associating together a plurality of strands of a length and material adapted to form a plurality of bristle units, folding said strands into a pluralityof substantially parallel lengths in substantially the same plane, associating other parallel lengths in juxtaposed planes and at an angle to said lengths in adjoining planes, securing said lengths together, and trimming the opposite ends of said lengths into a round brushing surface.

'7. The method of making round brushes comprising the steps of forming a plurality of pairs of holes each of whose walls extend straight through a substantially round brush body at a substantial angle to and on opposite sides of an opening extending longitudinally through the center of the brush body with the walls of each pair of openings breaking through a portion of the longitudinal opening, each pair of openings being angularly staggered in different planes relative to adjacent pairs of said openings, filling said pairs of openings with bristles which project at opposite ends from said body with extent of the walls from end to end of each of the pairs of openings tightly supporting the bristles therein, and inserting a pin in said longitudinal opening and compressing with said pin a niche in the adjacent sides of the bristle units occupying each pair of openings.

8. The method of making round brushes including the steps of associating together a plurality of strands of a length and material to form a number of bristle units, folding said strands successively into a plurality of parallel stantiallylike bristle units staggered relative to juxtaposed units, securing said units together throughout an area intermediate their ends with the opposite unsecured ends each being of a length more than sufficien-t for the eifectivelength 5' of the bristles, and trimming the opposite ends of said units including the folded portions into a round brushing surface.

9. The method of making brushes including the steps of lacing a rope back and forth in a fixture and a holder whose intermediate portion is adapted to form the brush head, securing bights of said l'aced rope together, and removing saidsecured rope and holder from said fixture.

10. The method of making brushes including 5 the steps of lacing a rope back and forth in a fixture whose intermediate portion is adapted to form the brush, securing the lengths of said lacedrope together in said intermediate portion, severing the looped ends of said rope, and removing 0- said secured rope and intermediate portion from said fixture.

11. The method of making brushes including the steps of lacing a rope back and forth in the same and different planes in a fixture whose in- 25 termediate portion is adapted to form the brush head, securing said laced rope together intermediate the folded ends, and removing said secured rope and said intermediate portion from said fixture.

12. The method of making brushes comprising the steps of placing in a fixture a brush body having bristle openings therein, inserting a length of bristle forming material into said openings with its portion intermediate said openings folded over an adjacent portion of said fixture, trimming the folded ends of the bristle material, and removing the bristled brush body from the fixture.

13. The method of making brushes comprising the steps of placing in a fixture a brush body having bristle openings therein, inserting a length-of bristle forming material into said openings with its portion extending from said openings projecting beyond a surface of said fixture adapted to conform to the brushing surface of the completed 5 brush, trimming the projecting portions of the brush forming material to conform to the said surface of said fixture, and removing the bristled brush body from the fixture.

1 1. In a fixture facilitating the manual making of brushes, the combination of means adapted to be temporarily associated with a permanent metallic brush body member provided with openings to receive the bristle material while mounted in the fixture, means for removably securing said means in the same definite position relative to the body member each. time the same may be secured thereto, a plurality of means mounted upon the first stated means each at a point separated from each other and at a definite distance from the body member relative to the brushing length of the bristle units, and means including the second stated means for permitting the ready removal from the fixture of the bristle material assembled with the body member.

15. In a fixture for making brushes, the combination of means adapted to removably hold a brush body having openings extending therethrough adapted to receive bristlematerial, and means having portions at a' distance from said 7 body and about which portions the bristle material is adapted to be passed to control the length of each bristle unit. 7

16. In a fixture for making brushes, the combination of means adapted to removably hold a 7 brush body having openings extending therethrough, said means being provided with spaces for the reception of the bristle material extending from the brush body and also having means whose use contributes to the determination of the length of the bristles from the brush body outward.

17. In a fixture for making brushes, the combination of means adapted to removably hold a brushbody having a plurality of holes extending therethrough in different planes while bristles are inserted in said holes, and a plurality of portions on said means around which a length of a bristle unit is adapted to be folded at points between and at a distance from said holes, said portions conforming to the cleaning surface of the completed brush and which portions serve as a guide in the trimming of the bristle units into a brushing surface.

18. In a fixture for making brushes, the combination of a member to which is adapted to be removably secured a brush body having a plurality of openings extending therethrough in different planes while a length of bristle forming cable is being inserted in said openings, and a plurality of pins extending from said member and spaced from said body and around which the length of bristle forming cable is adapted to be folded at a distance from said holes.

19. A fixture for the making of brushes having a body provided with an interior portion adapted to receive and retain in definite relation to the fixture a brush body having bristle material receiving openings, said fixture body having adjacent said openings means for determining the length of the bristle material, and means whereby the brush body may be removed from the fixture.

20. The method of making brushes comprising the steps of placing in a fixture a brush body, passing a length of bristle material through openings in said body and fixture, trimming the outer portions of the bristle material in definite relation to the fixture and removing the brush body from the fixture.

21. The method of making brushes comprising the steps of associatinga fixture and a brush body, passing a length of bristle material into and out of adjacent terminals of openings in the brush body and about portions of the fixture, trimming the bristle material to form a cleaning surface, and disassociating the fixture and the bristled brush.

22. A fixture for the making of a brush whose body has a projection on at least one end thereof adapted for the attachment of operating means and a plurality of openings for the reception of bristle material, said fixture having a body provided with means for receiving and holding the brush body by said projection, said fixture being provided with a portion extending adjacent the openings in the brush body and having openings through said portion adapted to be alignedwith 5, the openings in the brush body whereby the outer ends of the bristle material may be trimmed in definite relation to said fixture portion to form a cleaning surface.

23. The fixture of claim 22 characterized by 10 said portion of the fixture having an element thereof adapted to serve as a guide in trimming to a definite cleaning surface the outwardly projecting ends of the bristle material adapted to occupy said openings.

24. A fixture for the making of brushes comprising a body having in at least one wall thereof a recess adapted to receive a projection of the brush body,-said fixture also having means extending longitudinally of and over at least a portion of the periphery ofthe brush body, and said means having openings therethrough adapted to be in alignment with openings in the brush body, whereby bristle material associated with the brush body projects through said openings and the projection trimmed to form a definite cleaning surface.

25. A fixture for the making of brushes whose substantially cylindrical body has a plurality of bristle material receiving openings therein extending at an angle to each other, said fixture having a base, means for supporting the brush body upon said base, a plurality of means adapted to substantially surround the brush body and having openings therethrough adapted to be in alignment with the bristle material receiving openings,.said plurality of means being independently, movable relative to the brush body.

26. A fixture for the making of brushes whose body has a plurality of bristle material receiving openings therein extending at an angle to each other, said fixture having a base, means for supporting the brush body upon said base, a plurality of means adapted to substantially surround the brush body and having openings therethrough adapted to be in alignment with the bristle material receiving openings, and means for pivoting said plurality of means to the base.

27. The fixture of claim 26 characterized by means for removably securing the unpivoted ends of the plurality of means together.

28. The fixture of claim 26 characterized by means adapted to be positioned relative to an end of the brush body and to removably secure together the unpivoted ends of the plurality of 56 means.

GUYSBERT B. VROOM. 

